Weekly Notices | 19 October 2025

A Reflection by Dean Anthony

With the Great South Run coming up this weekend, I managed to locate my 2024 finisher’s medal. The fact that I have this may puzzle those of you who remember that, because of a storm, last year’s Run was cancelled!   Along with many others, however, I turned up to do it anyway, not least to honour those who had generously sponsored me (for the National Deaf Children’s Society). The organisers generously decided to issue medals to those who could prove they had actually completed the ten miles.

Despite (or perhaps because of) the conditions, the camaraderie and mutual support amongst the runners was exceptional. I am sure this will be true of the 2025 Run also, aided by the enthusiastic crowds that were absent on that stormy Sunday morning a year ago.   For all but the front runners, this is not a race to win but an event to take part in, enjoying the community atmosphere and the sense of achievement at crossing the finishing line.

In perhaps the greatest ever running film, Chariots of Fire, we see contrasting approaches to their sport by Harold Abrahams (determined to win at all costs), Eric Liddell (running for the glory of God) and Andrew Lindsay (who takes a more relaxed approach, practicing with a glass of champagne on each hurdle). There is an argument that Lindsay represents the most theologically attuned perspective, with sport as a significant and enjoyable part of human life but not of ultimate importance – with apologies to any diehard Pompey fans who are reading this!

The apostle Paul wrote about taking part in a race as a metaphor for discipleship.   In John’s Gospel, Jesus talks about winning a victory and conquering the world. In both cases, the key point is that the race and the victory are about staying faithful to the call and purposes of God. In the Great South Run, only one person can win. As a member of Christ’s church, always seeking the grace to follow him better, everyone can share in His ‘victory’ and there are no losers.   Here is something to reflect on and be thankful for as we either participate in the Run ourselves, or cheer on those who are!

With my prayers and good wishes,

Anthony Cane,
Dean of Portsmouth

Dates for your diary…

All Creatures Great & Small: Pet Blessing Service followed by tea and treats – Sunday, 19 October at 3:00pm
Coffee with Anna – Monday, 20 October at 11:00am
The Word is Near – Wednesday, 22 October at 10:15am
#PompeyTots – Wednesday, 22 October at 2:00pm
Future Folk with Katie Spencer – Thursday, 23 October at 7:30pm
Choral Evensong with visiting choir - Cavendish Choir – Saturday, 25 October at 5:45pm
Half Term Family Activities – 28 and 29 October at 9:30am and 1:30pm
Fair Trade Wine-Tasting Evening – Tuesday, 28 October at 7:00pm
All Souls' Remembering Service – Sunday, 2 November at 5:45pm

Community News

Cathedral Curate News

We are delighted to announce that in July 2026 we will be welcoming Stuart McKerracher as our new cathedral curate. Stuart will be ordained Deacon at Petertide and then begin his curacy with us, which is the next stage in his training. You can read more about Stuart below.

My name is Stuart McKerracher, and I am very much looking forward to joining the parish community as Assistant Curate next year.

I have a personal connection with Portsmouth: my grandfather was in the Naval Service, and my paternal relatives were all born and raised in the city. I grew up not far away on the Isle of Wight, and whilst in the interim I have studied and worked on the mainland, it was to the island that I returned for my ministerial discernment, joining the congregation at St Mildred’s, Whippingham.

I’m currently in my final year of training at the College of the Resurrection in Mirfield, West Yorkshire, where we live and work alongside our founders, the Community of the Resurrection, an Anglican monastic order with a long tradition of education and social justice work in the UK and Africa. I chose to study here primarily for the rigorous discipline of daily prayer, and the commitment to dignity and solemnity in the liturgy. In addition to this, I have been given the chance to run Bible-study sessions, and to work in the chaplaincies of a hospice and an inner-city homeless shelter. As a former secondary school teacher and volunteer food-bank co-ordinator, these experiences really helped establish a through line between my previous working life and my present vocation.

During my time at college, I have served successively as precentor and sacristan, helping to organise and run the musical and liturgical establishment. This has built on my earlier experience as a choral scholar at Oxford, as a cathedral lay clerk and lay succentor, and as choirmaster in my sending parish. Academically, my main interests are the Eastern Orthodox tradition, and ecumenical dialogue between Eastern and Western Christians. Having obtained a BA in Theology, Mission and Ministry, I am now reading for an MA focusing mainly on Patristics and Biblical Studies. I would describe myself as a High Church Anglican: catholic in liturgy and outward devotion, whilst inwardly rooted and steeped in the unchanging truth of scripture, a spirituality that I hope will be well fostered by the worshipping life of the cathedral.

I am married to Carole, an acupuncturist and linguist, who has walked with me on my journey of faith and discovery for the past 18 years. My stepson Liam lives in London, where he is embarking on professional training in Jungian psychotherapy. Off-duty, I enjoy long hikes and hillwalking, birdwatching, classical music, foraging wild foods, and catching up with friends over good food and real ale.

I’m very excited about meeting everyone and getting to know you, and for all the new opportunities that curacy will bring. May God increase our faith and bless our endeavours now and, in the years, to come.

With best wishes

Stuart

Cathedral Choir Album release

We're pleased to announce that the Cathedral Choir's new Christmas album is released TODAY (Friday 17 October) by Signum Classics. It is now available to download from all major streaming services such as Spotify and Apple Music as well as in CD form. Copies available direct from Music Staff or by emailing music@portsmouthcathedral.org.uk

You can find all streaming services and ways to purchase here.

The Christmas Fair - Entertainment and Raffle!

I’m very pleased to announce that we have found a sponsor for the Christmas Fair. Nesbits Auctioneers & Appraisers will sponsor the fair, allowing us to bring back a children’s entertainer but more about that next week… The raffle prizes are looking awesome, and tickets will be available in our Cathedral Gift Shop by the end of next week. For just a £1 raffle ticket you could win…

1st Prize: £100 John Lewis Voucher
Christmas Hamper
Book Lover’s Hamper
Pamper Hamper
Family Night In Hamper
Craft Hamper

Please get in touch if you can take some raffle tickets to sell to colleagues at work or to family and friends, every ticket sold helps the mission of our Cathedral Church.

Don’t forget there are many ways that you can help make the Christmas Fair a success. So, if you are boiling fruit for Jams or icing a Christmas Cake do send in some pictures, please. We’re collecting for both the Bottle Tombola and the Chocolate Tombola – so whether it’s a bottle of something lovely or a sweet treat, please consider donating. The week before the fair we will gratefully receive donations of jigsaw puzzles (complete, please!), good-quality fiction paperback books, children’s toys, glass & china, jewellery & scarves, as well as unused toiletries. All of which are a perfect way to pass things on for others to enjoy.

If you can offer a bit of your time – whether on the day itself or in the run-up – I’d love to hear from you. There’s a role for everyone, and your help makes all the difference.

For Chocolate donations please pass on to Rachael Forder or Ann Wilson. Bottle Tombola donations may be left with the verger or at the Cathedral Office for secure storage, other donations in the week before the fair.
Save the date - Portsmouth Cathedral Christmas Fair 11am Saturday 6 December followed by Carols on the Green at 5.45pm. All proceeds from the Christmas Fair support the work and mission of Portsmouth Cathedral. Free to enter, donations welcome.

Thank you for your support.

All Creatures Great & Small: Pet Blessing Service

Join us on Sunday 19 October at 3:00pm for our annual Pet Blessing Service. Bring your pet (or a picture of your pet) to be blessed by the cathedral clergy in a short service of animal themed hymns and readings. The service will be followed by tea, cakes, and treats! All are welcome.

Please keep dogs on a lead and cats and small animals in their carry boxes!

Remembering Service for All Souls - 2 November

This reflective service with the Cathedral Choir (Girls) singing Faure's Requiem offers a beautiful opportunity to remember loved ones, light a candle for them and share in Communion if you wish. The names of those who have died in this past year for whom we have conducted the funeral or memorial (or a burial of ashes) will be read. All are welcome and if you would like an additional name to be included at the service, please add it to the list in the Welcome Area.

Congratulations to our Bellringers!

In the world of bellringing, striking competitions (where teams of bellringers compete to ring the most accurately struck piece of ringing) are the most competitive and exciting thing we undertake, and of those, it is striking competitions on 12 bells that are the pinnacle of skills and technical challenge.

Last Saturday saw the first South East 12-Bell Striking Competition. With a National Competition starting in 1975, regional competitions are a more recent phenomenon. A London 12-Bell was started in 2009, and then followed by the North-West in 2017, and the South-West in 2018.

You can read the full story here.

Fairtrade at the Cathedral

On 28 October, a Fairtrade Wine and Cheese tasting Evening will be happening in Becket Hall.

Tickets for Wine tasting evening can be found here.

Worship & Visiting

Every day, Portsmouth Cathedral is open for worship, prayer, and visiting. Unless otherwise specified, services do not require booking. Our website contains orders of service, as well as information about visiting the Cathedral.

Services this Sunday

8:00am – Holy Communion
3:00pm – All Creatures Great & Small: Pet Blessing Service followed by tea and treats
5:45pm – Eucharist

Prayers & Intercessions

We remember those for whom prayer has been asked by members of the Cathedral Community: Richard, Abbie, Matthew, Hazel, Gina, Mark, Paul, Wynne, Saphie, Michael, Pauline, Susan, Karen, Jennifer, baby Lottie and baby Lily.

We continue to pray for the long-term sick, including: Carole, Davina, Ralph, Trudie, Marion, Stuart, Jill, Suzy, Chris, Graeme, Alistair, Philip, Mathai, Peter, George.

We remember those who have died recently, including: Anthea Hill, Sarah Chapman, William Blake and Julia Blake RIP.